Via Justine De fant

By Rebecca Yarros

May 2, 2023 • 528 pages

4.5 Stars

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

It’s like How To Train Your Dragon except everyone is way more bloodthirsty, brutal, and horny. 

In Fourth Wing, we are thrust into a fantasy world where dragon riders must undergo an unforgiving and cutthroat course that tests cadets on war strategies, pushes them past their physical and mental thresholds, and puts them through life-threatening obstacles.

In this book, we meet Violet Sorrengail, who is a far cry from her elite (and deceased) brother, her war-hero sister, and her merciless lieutenant of a mother who forces her to join the rider quadrant instead of the scribe quadrant she so fervently prepared for her whole life.

There is so much to tackle in this review and I can’t go too in-depth with the world, but what I will start with is really what made this book superb for me: The dragons.

Tairn and Andarna (the cutest dragon ever!) stole the show for me. Tairn is the grump to Andarna’s sunshine personality and I loved reading about their almost parent/child dynamic. I look forward to seeing their development the most in coming books and learning more about dragon culture. If they weren’t in the picture, this book would surely be lacking.

As far as plot goes, The Fourth Wing is not the most original as it has the typical YA/NA tropes, but this book hooks. You. In. I couldn’t put it down. This is a world I’d love to live in. 

The Outsider

Violet is fragile and physically weak. All the odds are stacked against her from the get-go so you naturally want to root for her. She is a lover of books, not war (typical), and she is a far cry from the legacy of the Sorrengail name. However, she is honorable and compassionate.

While I enjoy how she mentally pushes herself to keep going despite all the challenges against her, I would have liked to have seen more of her physical progression rather than being told of it. 

Enemies to Lovers

There is a slow burn romance that’s tension filled and keeps you waiting for its more spicier scenes. Of course Xaden is the in-house bad boy who already has a predetermined hatred for the FMC. And has all the ingredients of a typical male love interest.

Note: I absolutely ABHORE the name Xaden and would have liked to have seen more or a natural progression of their enemies to lovers story, but I like him as a character and enjoy the scenes where they are together.

Love Triangle

The love triangle knocked off points for me. Mainly because Dain is so god-awful and insufferable. He’s the insidious antagonist. I don’t think every story needs a love triangle, especially when it’s obvious where the real main romance lies. I physically rolled my eyes every time Dain came into the picture. He perpetually holds Violet back and undermines her abilities– so much so, it felt overdone. 

Duplicitous System

Like many fantasy novels, FW questions long-standing authorities and governmental systems. It’s evident early on that the leaders of her society are hiding something and the enemies against their kingdom are, in fact, the heroes. While this was not surprising, Yarros does hit you with a big twist at the end and I imagine (or hope) that the conflict builds complexity in the coming books.

Despite Dain and the corny names FW is a captivating novel. The relationships are relatable and I connected easily with several of the characters. I would recommend this for someone looking to immerse themself in a brand new, fast-paced, and action-filled world.